Sunday, March 23, 2014

Fethullah Gulen's Interview with Today's Zaman [Part 4]

Gülen calls for respect of diversity in Turkey to end polarization

Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, who has inspired the popular civic and social movement called Hizmet, called for the respect of diversity in Turkey, expressing his concern over growing polarization in society.

“I believe it is extremely
dangerous to polarize society along various lines or identities in
Turkey”, he said, stressing that “everyone must respect diversity.
Freedom of speech and expression cannot be restricted.”

“While the views of the majority certainly deserve respect, the views
of minority groups should be treated with the same level of respect as
well”, he added.

Describing Turkish society as a big family whose members subscribe to
different ideologies, Gülen asked, “How can a parent incite some
members of the family against other members of the same family who hold
different ideologies?”

“This is akin to playing with fire,” he warned.

Gülen's remarks are a direct criticism of embattled Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's harsh rhetoric pitting various social groups
against each other on the eve of local elections scheduled for March 30
with the purpose of consolidating support for his ruling party.

“If you suppress the masses, this will cause friction along social
fault lines. And this is such a big risk that no political party can
take for whatever political gain,” Gülen underlined.

Recalling his comments on the government's ill-advised policies on
how to handle mass protests during the Gezi Park events, Gülen said:
“[The protesters] voiced democratic demands and, initially, there were
innocent protests. These protests could have been tolerated.”

“Instead, the protests were violently suppressed,” he lamented.

“Is the shopping center that was to be built there worth a single
drop of blood [shed during the protests]? Is it worth a single human
life?” the Islamic scholar asked.

Responding to slander and baseless accusations targeting the Hizmet
movement, Gülen expressed his anguish over the unbearable smear
campaign. “I suppose people have never been insulted or encountered such
extensive lies and slanderous remarks before,” he stated, stressing
that the Holy Quran recommends sensitivity and a soft heart.

“When the hardness of the heart takes the soul hostage, one can
resort to every method to attain his goals irrespective of whether they
are legitimate or not,” he explained.

Reaffirming his views on the settlement process to resolve the
Kurdish problem, Gülen noted that he has always favored peace and
reconciliation over violence to settle the issue.

“This [settlement process] shouldn't be disrupted. This is a good
opportunity for both sides to forget about hostilities and turn back
from their mistakes,” he explained.

He criticized the government, however, for belated steps in tackling
the Kurdish issue, saying that fundamental rights and freedoms should
not be seen or used as a card in bargaining.

“Even before the settlement process began, I had expressed my
perspective about education in one's mother tongue. But no step was
taken to this end. This matter is still in abeyance,” he lamented.
The Islamic scholar also suggested that “in addition to recognizing
the due rights and freedoms of its Kurdish citizens, Turkey must extend a
helping hand to the Kurds in other regions. We must re-establish and
reinforce our cultural and historical ties with them.”

Here are excerpts from the interview:

During the Ambassadors' Conference in Ankara, ambassadors
were told to “explain well this organization” at their posts abroad. In a
sense, Turkish ambassadors were ordered to denounce the Turkish schools
abroad. Can you comment on this order?
When I hear news about Turkish officials' efforts to undermine the
Turkish schools abroad, my heart aches and I seek refuge in God.
Unfortunately, this appetite for destruction pushes all fair limits.
These schools were established through the great self-sacrifice of the
people of Anatolia. Almost everyone in Turkey has seen these schools, be
they rightists, leftists, neo-nationalists, the religious or atheists,
officials from the AK Party, the [main opposition] Republican People's
Party (CHP), the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), the Grand Unity Party
(BBP), the Felicity Party (SP), the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) --
people from all walks of life. I have not heard even one person say,
"These schools are harmful, and they should be shut down." No rational
or political argument or criterion can be employed to advocate the
closure of these schools.

Our friends who established these schools faced numerous material and
immaterial hardships. They brought the embracing nature of the people
of Anatolia to these countries. With them, they brought the Anatolian
people's tolerance. They took our universal values with them. To turn a
blind eye to the activities of these people who introduce our culture
and language to all the countries of the world is ingratitude. You
cannot conceal this manifest truth. Whatever they do, this wise society
sees and knows everything. Therefore, their failure to prevent these
activities or undermine these schools may lead them to delirium. They
are struggling uncontrollably. This also needs to be known.

Turkey cannot emerge as a strong international player in the
globalizing world if you fail to ensure that volunteer organizations and
lobbies support Turkey in the international arena. Turkey cannot
survive if it isolates itself from the external world. In this day and
age, this applies not only to Turkey but to every other country as well.
Turkey needs the support of the people who nurture love and sympathy
for it everywhere around the world. Societies need to know more about
and understand each other for global peace.

I feel much pain in seeing how these charity activities are being
sabotaged and misrepresented in the eyes of foreign people. Despite
this, we will try to maintain our respect and politeness toward
everyone. This is what we have always done and will always do as this is
what our character tells us to do.

In this transient world, we will speak ill of no one; we will not
break anyone's heart; we will continue to promote good and amiable
relations with everyone. Our actions will be guided by the following
words of Bediüzzaman Said Nursi: "I forgive everyone who caused me
hardship and anguish, the torture I was subjected to, and the ordeals I
went through for many years. I have known nothing of worldly pleasure in
my life of over 80 years. I have spent all my life on the battleground,
in dungeons or in prison. I was barred from communication for months. I
was treated like a criminal at war tribunals. I forgive those who
oppressed me, those who sent me into exile many times, those who sought
to put me in prison on trumped-up charges, and those who paved the way
for my imprisonment."

True, as a believer, I promised to share these feelings. I will not
be angry with anyone. I promised to welcome death smiling and treat
divine hardship and bliss as the same.

Our friends should not despair. With God's grace and permission, this
service done for this nation, for the future of this nation and for all
of humanity will continue. Thanks to God's favor and generosity,
neither slander nor ill-intentioned campaigns can halt this bandwagon of
service. People with a pure conscience and mind will soon uncover this
slander and these lies.

As I noted elsewhere, there may be certain fanatical efforts to block
our path, but as long as there are souls who are open to dialogue,
tender people who smile at everyone, conscientious people who are aware
of their sins, souls who regret their wrong or misguided deeds, and wise
people who seek to build their future on reasonableness, we will mend
our shattered souls and recover ourselves and continue to love everyone
anew. This is what we should do with respect to the recent developments.
On the other hand, I believe it is extremely dangerous to polarize
society along various lines or identities in Turkey. This is akin to
playing with fire. How can a parent incite some members of the family
against other members of the same family who hold different ideologies?
We are a large family with roots dating back several centuries. We must
refrain from treating our differing ideologies and diverse identities as
reasons to quarrel or engage in conflict. Everyone must respect
diversity. Freedom of speech and expression cannot be restricted. While
the views of the majority certainly deserve respect, the views of
minority groups should be treated with the same level of respect as
well. If you suppress the masses, this will cause friction along social
fault lines. And this is such a big risk that no political party can
take for whatever political gain.

Unfortunately, this is what happened during the Gezi Park protests.
The people voiced democratic demands and, initially, there were innocent
protests. These protests could have been tolerated. Officials could
have visited the protesters and learned about their demands. Instead,
the protests were violently suppressed. Is the shopping center that was
to be built there worth a single drop of blood [shed during the
protests]? Is it worth a single human life? Naturally, pressure led to
violence and a local issue turned into a national security issue. And
the evil networks which were waiting for an opportunity to stir up chaos
stepped onto the stage, and we were very concerned at that time. Our
friends all around the world prayed for peace. They prayed the Prayer of
Need. And yet it was said that these protests were somehow masterminded
by the Hizmet movement. May God endow them with understanding.

Some circles recently used the term “supreme mastermind” to
tarnish the image of the Hizmet movement and imply that the movement is
supported by external actors.
Making this accusation is a grave sin. I suppose people have never
been insulted or encountered such extensive lies and slanderous remarks
before. If there is something they are aware of, they should inform the
public about it; otherwise, they are denigrating Muslims. The smear
campaign is so unbearable that we are witnessing new lies and even
slander every day. The desire for prosperity makes hearts insensitive;
and in that case, you cannot feel properly. You ignore spirituality; you
even humiliate it. When the heart becomes insensitive and attaches
great importance to the world through the desire for prosperity, you'll
suppose that it is all about this world. And then you simply do not
worry about committing sins. The Quran recommends sensitivity and
emotion in the heart. When the hardness of the heart takes the soul
hostage, one can resort to every method to attain his goals irrespective
of whether they are legitimate or not. Sadly, one of the reasons for
the current stalemate is hardness in the hearts. But if they are looking
for a mastermind of the Hizmet movement, I would say it is the
solidarity and protection that God bestows on consultation and
brotherhood.

The Hizmet movement does not depend on any fading and mortal power or
actor; it has made advances because God has been graceful; as long as
He protects, no one will ever hurt it. Muslims are supposed to act with
caution. They do not backbite about their brothers and sisters based on
false reports. Unfortunately, there is no room for the afterlife in the
agendas of those who express their desires for worldly possessions all
the time. This may drive the people towards social deviation and
religious distortion. Many unusual statements that contradict with
religious belief have been made. Media outlets covered them extensively.
These are contradictory to religious norms; but even those who are
supposed to remain silent are talking. We can save our souls from the
disorder and corruption surrounding us by renewing our thoughts and
emotions on a daily basis. Hearts are hardened if theoretical Islam
turns into a lifestyle and, in that case, one forgets about his own
responsibility and slanders Muslims all the time. Things will settle
down eventually. People in this country will look at each other's face
again. People who turn in the same direction [i.e., towards Makkah]
while performing their prayers should avoid making strong remarks that
they would feel ashamed of in the future.
---- In the fifth and last part of this series, to be published
tomorrow, Gülen explains his views on the upcoming elections and talks
about a brand new constitution to make a fresh start in Turkey.

‘Kurds' right should not be used as a card in bargaining'

What do you think about the settlement process and its current state?
This is something I had spoken about previously on a number of
occasions. A believer always favors peace. A believer adopts the
attitude required for peace. There are problems that have accumulated
over time. In the past, violence was wielded to solve these problems.
But this did not settle it; it only exacerbated it further. Now there is
a process of peace and reconciliation. This shouldn't be disrupted.
This is a good opportunity for both sides to forget about hostilities
and turn back from their mistakes.
A state must be fair in its dealings with its citizens. Fundamental
rights and freedoms should not be seen or used as a card in bargaining.

Even before the settlement process began, I had expressed my
perspective about education in one's mother tongue. But no step was
taken to this end. This matter is still in abeyance. At once we must
raise teachers who are capable of teaching in Kurdish. This is not
something that can be done upon demands from the public. The state must
take the first step. In taking this step, we must refrain from words,
attitudes and behavior that may give the impression that we are doing
this as a favor. The region was home to numerous major civilizations and
intellectuals. In addition to recognizing the due rights and freedoms
of its Kurdish citizens, Turkey must extend a helping hand to the Kurds
in other regions. We must re-establish and reinforce our cultural and
historical ties with them.

We have three fundamental problems: These were outlined by
Bediüzzaman almost a century ago as ignorance, poverty and disunity.
These problems have bred despair, deception, circumvention, mutual
distrust, and so on. We need to discuss these problems on a common
platform. This is not something that can be done with disdain and
arrogance. If conciliation is to be achieved, this would be
all-inclusive, embracing the entirety of the region and diverse groups.
No one should be excluded from it. Common denominators should be found
to embrace political and non-political groups. We should let local
people solve their problems with their own capabilities. If quick steps
are not taken in this regard, I fear the settlement process may come to a
halt. Fine, let us focus on stopping the bloodshed. Even this indicates
a certain level of pragmatism. But we should have targets beyond that
point. We must create an atmosphere in which everyone -- Turks, Kurds,
Sunnis, Alevis, Arabs, Syriacs, and so on -- can co-exist as members of
the same family in happiness and prosperity.